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This thesis represents my attempt to broaden our understanding of the root causes and underlying nature of the Red Scare phenomenon. I cover both the Frist Red Scare of the early 1920s as well as the Second Red Scare of the late 1940s and early 1950s. After considerable research, I came to the conclusion that the traditional understanding of anti-communism in the US - as a reactionary movement largely motivated by the international hostility of the USSR - provides us with only half of the... Show moreThis thesis represents my attempt to broaden our understanding of the root causes and underlying nature of the Red Scare phenomenon. I cover both the Frist Red Scare of the early 1920s as well as the Second Red Scare of the late 1940s and early 1950s. After considerable research, I came to the conclusion that the traditional understanding of anti-communism in the US - as a reactionary movement largely motivated by the international hostility of the USSR - provides us with only half of the truth. In fact, the development of public hysteria over perceived Soviet infiltration had far more to do with domestic circumstances than it had to do with foreign threats. Chief among these motivating factors was the state of the US economy. During the 1920s, when many poorer Americans felt they had been left behind by the post-war boom, the federal government's attempts to develop public hostility towards socialism failed somewhat. But after the Fair Deal and the GI Bill ensured a new, broader prosperity for the larger American public, it became easy to galvanize citizens in response to a perceived threat to their happy way of life. Show less

Date Issued

2013

Identifier

FSU_migr_uhm-0283

Format

Thesis

Title

The Resurgence of Cold War Imagery in Western Popular Culture.

Creator

Van Jelgerhuis, Daniel, Wakamiya, Lisa Ryoko, Romanchuk, Robert, Edwards, Leigh H., Florida State University, College of Arts and Sciences, Department of Modern Languages and... Show moreVan Jelgerhuis, Daniel, Wakamiya, Lisa Ryoko, Romanchuk, Robert, Edwards, Leigh H., Florida State University, College of Arts and Sciences, Department of Modern Languages and Linguistics Show less

Abstract/Description

The portrayal of Russia in Western popular culture has served various purposes, particularly between 1945 and 1991. With a few exceptions, Soviet citizens, particularly Russians, have been shown as, alternatingly, backwards peasants and cunning enemies. In the post-1991 period, this tradition of showing Russia as the enemy continued in film and television, but tapered off in favor of more seemingly relevant foes on the world stage. While film analyses focusing on the portrayal of Russia and... Show moreThe portrayal of Russia in Western popular culture has served various purposes, particularly between 1945 and 1991. With a few exceptions, Soviet citizens, particularly Russians, have been shown as, alternatingly, backwards peasants and cunning enemies. In the post-1991 period, this tradition of showing Russia as the enemy continued in film and television, but tapered off in favor of more seemingly relevant foes on the world stage. While film analyses focusing on the portrayal of Russia and Russians have been done, the renewal of focus on Cold War imagery in reference to Russia and the West has not been commented on. Because of the so-called Illegals Program uncovered in 2010, the attempted "reset" between the United States and the Russian Federation, increased Western media coverage of human rights issues in Russia, and many other types of exposure, including the annexation of Crimea and the conflict with Russia-backed anti-Kiev militias in eastern Ukraine, Russia has taken center-stage and is subject not only to international scrutiny, but also to rehashed prejudices and outdated knowledge of the country that stems from old antagonisms. The television programs The Americans, Archer, and Doctor Who all look at Russia and the relationship of Russia with the West through a Cold War lens. I argue that this resurgence is in response to both Cold War nostalgia and a renewal of Russia's relevance on the world stage. By analyzing these programs, it will be shown that the types of information and impressions that are being promoted by popular culture of late at once serve to provide nuance to an ordinarily one-sided and limited portrayal of Russia and its people, and at the same time reinforce old, stale images of the "Evil Empire" that only serve to prevent understanding and cooperation between the citizens of the West and of Russia. Show less